The Nigeria Basketball Federation has maintained that the dunk off date for the second phase of the 2023 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League in Savannah Conference remains sacrosanct as all the clubs are getting ready for the September 18 date.
The NBBF had announced September 18 to 24 for the second phase at the Lafia City Hall, Shendam Road, Lafia, Nasarawa State and insisted that it will not change the date.
The first phase of the league held in Jos, saw Nigerian Customs topping the log with five wins in five games while defending Champions, Air Warriors, are second on the log with four wins in five games.
Plateau Rocks and Nigeria Army with three and two wins respectively in the same number of games will have to double efforts to be in contention for the two tickets available in the zone for the finals billed for Lagos. Nasarawa Amazons (one win) and Kada Stars (no win) respectively are off the radar in the race for finals but will still feature in the second face for pride.
The president of NBBF, Musa Kida, said all was ready for a successful competition. “We are ready and all the teams are getting ready to move to Lafia for the second phase,” Kida said.
“The September 18 date is sacrosanct because we have our schedules since the start of the First Phase.”
He however explained the reasons why the second phase of the Atlantic Conference was postponed.
According to him, the change in date of the National Youth Games coming up at the same venue of the Atlantic Conference, the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, compelled the federation to change the date from September 18 to October 2.
Also, the group managing director of Zenith Bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, urged all the teams to be at their best while also applauding the organisation of the two conferences.
“This is our prime sports event and we are happy the ladies are having fun again. We are always ready to contribute to the development of sports and the years of absence were not deliberate but due to issues beyond our control,” Onyeagwu said.
